Stephen Colbert Biography Stephen Tyrone Colbert born May 13, 1964 is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, singer, and television host. He is best known for hosting the satirical Comedy Central program The Colbert Report from 2005 to 2014 and later taking over as the host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS in 2015. Originally studying dramatic acting, Colbert developed an interest in improvisational theater while attending Northwestern University, where he met Second City director Del Close. He began his professional career as an understudy for Steve Carell at Second City Chicago, where he worked with fellow comedians Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris. The trio later collaborated on the sketch comedy series Exit 57 and wrote for The Dana Carvey Show (1996). They also worked together on the sitcom Strangers with Candy (1999–2000).
Stephen Colbert Biography
Stephen Tyrone Colbert was born on May 13, 1964, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. He is the youngest of eleven children in an Irish Catholic family. His father, James William Colbert Jr., was a doctor and medical school dean at institutions such as Yale, Saint Louis University, and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), while his mother, Lorna Elizabeth (Tuck), was a homemaker. Stephen studied acting at Northwestern University and later performed with the Second City comedy troupe in Chicago. He then collaborated with fellow Second City members Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello to create the sketch comedy show Exit 57 for Comedy Central in 1995. The show ran for two seasons and received five CableACE nominations for best writing, performing, and comedy series.
Stephen Colbert Biography Details
Birth name | Stephen Tyrone Colbert |
Born | May 13, 1964 (age 60) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
Medium | Television film theater books |
Education | Northwestern University (BA) |
Years active | 1984–present |
Genres | Political/news satire improvisational comedy black comedy character comedy sketch comedy surreal humor |
Subject(s) | American politics American culture political punditry pop culture current events mass media/news media civil rights religion social awkwardness human sexuality human behavior |
Spouse | Evelyn McGee (m. 1993) |
Children | 3 |
Parent(s) | James William Colbert Jr. (father) |
Relative(s) | Elizabeth Colbert Busch (sister) |
Category | Biography |
About Stephen Colbert
Stephen Tyrone Colbert is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, singer, and television host. He is best known for hosting the satirical Comedy Central program The Colbert Report from 2005 to 2014 and the CBS talk program The Late Show with Stephen Colbert since September 2015.
- Born: 13 May 1964 (age 60 years), Washington, D.C., United States
- Spouse: Evelyn McGee-Colbert (m. 1993)
- Children: Peter Colbert, Madeline Colbert, John Colbert
- Siblings: Elizabeth Colbert Busch, Paul Colbert, Thomas Colbert ·
- Height: 8 m
- Education: Northwestern University School of Communication (1984–1986) ·
Early Life and Education
Colbert was born in Washington, D.C., the youngest of eleven children in a Catholic family. He grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, before moving to James Island, South Carolina. His father, James William Colbert Jr., was an immunologist and medical school dean, while his mother, Lorna Elizabeth Colbert, was a homemaker. In interviews, Colbert has shared that his parents valued both faith and intellectualism, encouraging their children to question the Church while still maintaining their Catholic identity. He also mentioned that his father enjoyed the writings of French humanists like Léon Bloy and Jacques Maritain, while his mother admired Catholic Worker Movement leader Dorothy Day.
Despite this intellectual environment, Colbert described his upbringing as “pretty conservative,” with his mother voting for John F. Kennedy in the 1960 election being a rare political divergence. Colbert also recalls his childhood as being rambunctious and remembers working to counter the stereotype of Southerners being portrayed as unintelligent on television by imitating the speech patterns of American news anchors.
Stephen Colbert at a Glance
- Category: Richest Celebrities › Richest Comedians
- Net Worth: $75 Million
- Salary: $15 Million
- Birthdate: May 13, 1964 (60 years old)
- Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
- Gender: Male
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.81 m)
- Profession: Comedian, Actor, Writer, Television Show Host, TV Personality, Presenter, Screenwriter, Television Producer, Film Producer, Satirist
- Nationality: United States
Career Beginnings
Born on May 13, 1964, in Washington, D.C., Colbert is the youngest of 11 children. He spent his early years in Bethesda, Maryland, before moving to James Island, South Carolina, a suburb of Charleston. Tragedy struck in 1974 when Colbert’s father and two brothers, Peter and Paul, died in the Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 crash. Afterward, his mother relocated the family to downtown Charleston.
Colbert attended the Episcopal Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, where he developed a passion for acting, participating in several school plays. He initially pursued marine biology at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, but after suffering hearing loss in his right ear from a surgical procedure, he turned his focus to theater. He transferred to Northwestern University in 1984 to major in theater, where he studied performance and graduated in 1986. While at Northwestern, Colbert began performing improvisation and became involved with the Annoyance Theatre in Chicago. After graduation, he worked at Second City in Chicago, starting in an administrative role and eventually performing with the touring company. It was here that he met future collaborators Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello.
Television Career
In 1997, Colbert joined The Daily Show as a correspondent after meeting producer Madeline Smithberg. While working at The Daily Show, he also worked on Strangers with Candy, which aired on Comedy Central from 1999 to 2000. Colbert’s distinctive correspondent character, often absurd and foolish, quickly gained attention.
In 2005, Colbert launched his own spin-off show, The Colbert Report, which became a significant success. His character as an over-the-top conservative pundit, created in collaboration with Jon Stewart and Ben Karlin, was widely praised and earned several awards, including an Emmy and a Peabody Award. Following the retirement of David Letterman, Colbert became the host of The Late Show on CBS in September 2015. Under his leadership, The Late Show became more politically focused, reflecting Colbert’s previous work on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.
Other Projects
Colbert has expanded his reach beyond television. In 2006, he performed at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, satirizing the George W. Bush Administration and the press corps in his usual conservative persona. The performance was initially met with silence but later went viral, boosting the ratings of The Colbert Report.
He is also the co-author of the satirical novel Wigfield: The Can-Do Town That Just May Not (2003) with Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello. Colbert has appeared in guest roles on shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Spin City, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, as well as a small role in the film Bewitched (2005). Additionally, he has voiced characters on animated shows such as The Venture Bros., Crank Yankers, American Dad!, and The Simpsons. Colbert’s Christmas comedy special, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! (2008), also gained popularity.
Personal Life
Colbert has been married to Evelyn “Evie” McGee-Colbert since 1993, and the couple has three children: Madeleine (born 1995), Peter (born 1998), and John (born 2002). The family resides in Montclair, New Jersey. Stephen identifies as a Democrat and practices Roman Catholicism. He is also an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church Monastery.
What Is Stephen Colbert’s Net Worth 2025?
Stephen Colbert, an American comedian, writer, actor, author, and talk show host, has a net worth of $75 million. He is widely recognized for hosting “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central from 2005 to 2014 and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on CBS since 2015. Before these iconic shows, Colbert was a correspondent on “The Daily Show” and co-created and starred in the Comedy Central series Strangers with Candy.
Salary and Contract
Initially, Stephen’s salary for The Late Show was $6 million per year. However, in October 2019, he signed a contract extension with CBS that raised his annual salary to $15 million. Colbert further extended his contract in mid-2023 for another three years.